Chapter Thirteen
Months passed. King Endymion fell ill, and Gratiana's pregnancy became more and more apparent. The midwives of Elysion sadly predicted a male child. Gratiana restlessly paced the palace, caring for Endymion and worrying. "Slow down," Lucient warned. "I don't want you hurting yourself." "But I need to bring Endymion his breakfast!" she argued. Lucient took the tray from his wife's hands. "I'll bring father his breakfast. You go rest." Gratiana reluctantly left Lucient to tend to her father-in-law. However, when she opened her door, she was startled to find Guillaume sitting on her windowsill, staring out. "How goes the pregnancy, m'lady?" he asked, not looking away from the window. "Painfully," she answered icily. "Won't you go away and let me rest?" "Ever the faithful wife, n'est-ce que pas? But aren't you worried about the effect of your male child on your princessly stature?" "She's female, Guillaume. A girl named Serenity, and she'll have beautiful flowing hair like mine, and pretty sparkling eyes like Lucient's," she answered, her eyes shining with love. "He very well may have flowing hair and sparkling eyes, but I assure you that the child you carry is a boy." "Cur. Leave me be," she muttered, crawling into bed. * * * After two hours of pain and screaming, Gratiana's first child was born. Lucient squeezed her hand; then handed her her tiny child. "A perfect child; our perfect daughter," he whispered happily. "Serenity," Gratiana cooed, silently counting the fingers and toes on her child. "Ten of each," she thought contentedly. Endymion was wheeled into the room to see his grandchild. She clung trustingly to her mother, blue eyes wide and observing. On her scalp were short, fluffy strands of white hair. "Sa nom?" "Elle s'appelle Serenity." "And she is blessed," he said magically, touching a wand to the infant's forehead. "Become a good king, Lucient," he choked out before breathing his last breath. Lucient rushed to his side, but it was too late. Gratiana cried over her child's head, while Serenity looked on with innocent eyes. The first thing she knew in life was death.
Months passed. King Endymion fell ill, and Gratiana's pregnancy became more and more apparent. The midwives of Elysion sadly predicted a male child. Gratiana restlessly paced the palace, caring for Endymion and worrying. "Slow down," Lucient warned. "I don't want you hurting yourself." "But I need to bring Endymion his breakfast!" she argued. Lucient took the tray from his wife's hands. "I'll bring father his breakfast. You go rest." Gratiana reluctantly left Lucient to tend to her father-in-law. However, when she opened her door, she was startled to find Guillaume sitting on her windowsill, staring out. "How goes the pregnancy, m'lady?" he asked, not looking away from the window. "Painfully," she answered icily. "Won't you go away and let me rest?" "Ever the faithful wife, n'est-ce que pas? But aren't you worried about the effect of your male child on your princessly stature?" "She's female, Guillaume. A girl named Serenity, and she'll have beautiful flowing hair like mine, and pretty sparkling eyes like Lucient's," she answered, her eyes shining with love. "He very well may have flowing hair and sparkling eyes, but I assure you that the child you carry is a boy." "Cur. Leave me be," she muttered, crawling into bed. * * * After two hours of pain and screaming, Gratiana's first child was born. Lucient squeezed her hand; then handed her her tiny child. "A perfect child; our perfect daughter," he whispered happily. "Serenity," Gratiana cooed, silently counting the fingers and toes on her child. "Ten of each," she thought contentedly. Endymion was wheeled into the room to see his grandchild. She clung trustingly to her mother, blue eyes wide and observing. On her scalp were short, fluffy strands of white hair. "Sa nom?" "Elle s'appelle Serenity." "And she is blessed," he said magically, touching a wand to the infant's forehead. "Become a good king, Lucient," he choked out before breathing his last breath. Lucient rushed to his side, but it was too late. Gratiana cried over her child's head, while Serenity looked on with innocent eyes. The first thing she knew in life was death.